Thanks as always to Ambush99 for betaing this chapter!
Chapter 14
"This time tomorrow it'll be over," James said as he leant against the pub wall, nursing a pint. It was the end of June and the sun had finally shown her face. "I still don't know why he has to do it!"
"He wants to," Sirius responded.
"He still shouldn't have to."
"I know, I'm sorry."
"What?" James replied, frowning. "No Sirius! That day was one of the worst, most terrifying but at the same time one of the, well, I don't know what it was. You returned. I thought you were dead, I still thought you were going to die, everyone did!"
"Exactly, my 'return' was a distraction-"
"No Sirius," James said sharply, cutting his friend off. "We've been through this. If anyone is to blame, it's not you. You didn't even make the 'for consideration' list."
Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Fine," he said dismissively. "What time are you going to get to Hogwarts tomorrow?"
"Morning. We can spend the day with him before the task," James explained.
"At least they have some form of humanity," Sirius observed. "I'll see you there; I've got to go to the office first."
"Dumbledore wants aurors stationed at Hogwarts during the task?"
"Yeah," Sirius replied, taking a careful sip of his beer. "James, you know I would tell you if I thought there was any danger."
"I know."
"You know I would be pulling Harry out of that tournament if I thought there was any risk apart from the bloody task itself."
"I know you would," James returned, patting his friend's shoulder. "Why are you there?"
"Precautions."
"And?"
"Observation," Sirius said simply.
"You think whoever killed Crouch will be in the crowd?" James asked. He watched Sirius raise his eyebrows and say nothing. "Okay, I won't say anything more. How's Moody's other plan going?"
"What other plan?"
"Oh come on Sirius, you don't need to be all 'cloak and dagger' with me. You are beginning to spend an unhealthy amount of time in the office."
Sirius looked away for a moment. "James, because of my job there are some things I can't talk about, you know that."
"I do, I used to do your job, remember," James bit back. "This is nothing to do with the job. Let me in, whatever it is, I am sure I can help."
Sirius sighed and rubbed his face. "Mate, it's too-"
"Too what? Dangerous? Seriously, what the fuck Sirius! We're going to be at war soon. You think Voldemort won't target me again? He's still going to go after my son or don't you remember the prophecy!" James snapped.
"Of course I remember about the bloody prophecy!" Sirius growled. "It's just, fuck James, I'm not fucking cut out for this!"
"Cut out for what?" James pushed.
Sirius drained the last of his pint. "Moody wants me to recruit people. Essentially he wants me to recreate the Order but under my guidance, not Dumbledore's. I'm just, I'm just Sirius, I'm not Dumbledore."
"Mate, you haven't been 'just Sirius' for a while. You've changed. I know I didn't see you for thirteen years, but you've grown far more than anyone else. I know we are in our thirties now, and the last I saw you, we were twenty one year olds."
"Who thought we were invincible and could take on the world," Sirius cut in.
"Yeah, that too. But I'm ser-" James stopped for a moment and scowled at his grinning friend. "Oh, piss off, Padfoot. I'm serious. Most people wouldn't have survived what you went through and, if they had survived, not mentally. But you did. Not only that, you are making it your life's work to bring the bastard down, to save the wizarding world."
"Merlin, James you make it sound so dramatic!"
"Have I said anything untruthful? Are you working to destroy Voldemort? Are you working to save the wizarding world?" James countered. He watched his friend for a moment before continuing. "Then let me help you. People believe in you because of who you are and what you stand for. I know people in the Ministry who would be more than happy to join your cause. Let me bring them to the table, you can do the rest. You can't do this alone. No one expects you to do this alone."
"James, I-"
"Have you and Moody lost faith in Dumbledore?" James said simply.
Sirius looked away for a moment. "He was once a great wizard, and still is in many respects, but I don't think he's as powerful as he once was. He keeps missing stuff and allows himself to be blindly led by Fudge and the Ministry. Don't get me wrong, I think he is still a great wizard and a fantastic headmaster. I just, I think he's not the right person for the job this time. I don't know who is, but I don't believe its Dumbledore."
"I know who it is," James said slowly.
"Moody?"
"No," James said, shaking his head. "Moody is a fantastic auror. Aside from you, there's no one else I'd choose to go into battle with, but he's not an influencer or a leader."
"Oh come on!" Sirius exclaimed.
"I know you don't believe it right now, but you will in time."
Sirius sighed reluctantly. He was torn; he didn't want to put his best friend in harm's way for a single moment, but then, there was no one he would trust more than James. "Sure, but not now. Now, you have far more important things to worry about. Once this bloody tournament is over, I promise we'll discuss it."
"Moody, are you ready?" Sirius said as he leant against the door frame.
"I've been waiting for you," Moody growled, throwing on his thick travelling cloak.
"You do realise its midsummer's day and it's already 27c out there."
"What if it rains? What if the temperature drops? What have I taught you?"
"Always be prepared. Yeah, I know and I've got a jacket but there's being prepared for a typical British summer's day and then there's being prepared for an Arctic expedition," Sirius laughed, his grin widening when his comment was met with a scowl.
"You worried about Potter's son?"
Sirius' grin faded. "Yeah, Dumbledore says he's put all the precautionary measures in place so the kids will be safe, but then again his age line was supposed to be infallible."
"You still have no clue who put the boy's name in the cup?"
"No, do you have any theories?"
"No, but we don't have a lot to go on," Moody said. Observing Sirius' confused expression he added, "No one said anything until the first task. Hell, I didn't know you were alive until that rat was arrested. Dumbledore being clandestine about you, I can understand. But the boy?! Someone should have said something!"
"Don't you dare blame James and Lily," Sirius growled.
"No," Moody said, holding his hands up. "No, I do not blame them for one moment. They must have felt as though they had been thrown under the Knight Bus. You arrive on their doorstep half dead, then they get told by Dumbledore, the Minister of Magic and Crouch that their son had to compete. Oh and it was touch and go for a month whether or not you were going to survive." He watched a familiar shadow pass across the younger's face. "And no, don't you dare blame yourself either. You did everything you could to get back and it damn near killed you. If you want to blame someone, blame the shit who put the boy's name in the cup."
"Oh I will," Sirius said darkly. "Believe me Moody, I will blame the little shit who did, but first I need to ensure Harry gets through the task."
"He'll be fine," Moody reassured. "The sooner this tournament is over, the sooner you can fully concentrate on your other task."
Sirius made a face. "Moody, I think this is part of Voldemort's plan, I just don't know how. I know I need to recruit more people to the order and James has agreed to help me. I just, well-" He paused for a moment. "When I was held captive, I heard them talk about the tournament. They mentioned Harry and Voldemort a lot. My cousin sounded excited, like she thought Voldemort was going to return. I just, Moody something is going to happen to connect all of the dots, I just don't know what. Crouch somehow got mixed up in it and they killed him because of it."
"We'll figure it out Sirius. We'll keep those kids safe."
"Do you know anything that can bring someone back from the dead?" Sirius asked as they continued to walk to the Apparation spot within the Ministry.
"Apart from the Resurrection Stone mentioned in that children's book, no."
"Resurrection Stone?"
"Yes, part of the Deathly Hallows in, oh what's the book called?"
"Sorry I can't help you there; my parents weren't the bedtime story types."
"Not to matter, it's a legend in a child's book, so it doesn't exist."
"So, apart from a mythical stone, there's nothing you know of that would bring someone back from the dead?" Sirius pushed.
"I've heard about an ancient ritual, but I don't have anything factual to back it up. Sirius, what is this all about? Why the sudden interest in bringing people back from the dead?" Moody asked as they stopped at the Apparation point.
"I don't know."
"Sirius!"
"It's a theory, but I don't know. I've been thinking about what Crouch said, what I said. We both said he was getting stronger. My cousin was excited. She loved him, she wanted to have his children. I never heard what they were discussing but it sounded like they had a break through. I, well, I became distracted by Pettigrew and forgot about most of it, until recently." Sirius paused for a moment, wondering how to broach the subject. "Well, as I said it's just a theory, stemming from grappled memories, but I think, well I think they are going to try and resurrect Voldemort."
"Merlin," Moody exclaimed taking a step back.
"As I said it's just a theory, I have no factual evidence to back it up," Sirius continued.
"Yes, but your theories are more than often right," Moody countered. "I just hope this is one of the rare occasions you are wrong."
"God, I hope so too," Sirius said tiredly, as he rubbed his face. He looked at Moody for a moment. "It's just a theory and I cannot rely on those memories. Those thirteen years are fragmented at best. I have difficulty separating fact from fiction then."
Moody nodded understandingly. "How about we have a chat about it when we get back?"
"Sounds a good idea," Sirius replied as he stepped forward to the Apparation point. "Shall we?" Moments later Sirius landed outside Hogwarts' gates. He glanced to his side as Moody landed next to him. "What's the plan?"
"I'll talk to the judges, you check things out," Moody replied. "We'll meet at the stands in ten minutes."
Sirius nodded. "Who's bringing the cup down?"
"I'm not sure. Actually, let's meet outside Dumbledore's office in ten minutes. I want to have a look at the cup."
"Why?"
"I have never seen it and it's supposed to be a perfect example of an ancient magical artefact," Moody replied.
"I didn't realise you were into artefacts."
"Not all, but the Triwizard Cup has such a history," Moody explained. "Well, I'd better talk to the judges. I'll see you outside Dumbledore's office in ten minutes."
Sirius nodded and turned towards the castle. He scanned the area and found nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps their theory was incorrect; perhaps Crouch's killer had long since skipped the country. After all, why would they stay at the crime scene where they were bound to be caught eventually? He shrugged his shoulders and headed towards the castle. He easily cut through the excited crowd making their way towards the stands, until he reached Dumbledore's office. Seeing the door open, he frowned and slipped in. He paused for a moment at the bottom of the stairs before he continued.
"Oh" M-Mr. Black, it's you," Professor Quirrell, the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher stammered.
Sirius smiled. "Professor Quirrell, are you ready for the third task?" he said politely. Quirrell, Sirius thought, another one of Dumbledore's more questionable choices.
"Y-Yes, j-just about to t-take the c-cup d-down," Quirrell said as he shifted nervously.
Sirius found himself frowning again. There was something not quite right. "Can I have a look at the cup?" he asked, as he reached forward. As soon as he touched it, he felt a familiar tug at his navel, before the room spun and he was lifted from his feet. He felt his feet slam to the ground. Stumbling forwards, he fell to his knees. Wherever he was, he was miles from Hogwarts. It looked as though he was in a small, overgrown graveyard. On instinct, he pulled his wand out and pulled himself to his feet. Where the hell was he and why the hell would the Triwizard Cup transport the winner here?
